Chowan College - Chowanoka Yearbook (Murfreesboro, NC)

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Senior Class Prophecy It was twilight and everything was quiet when I had completed my day ' s work and sat down Ijefore the open fireplace to meditate on the things of the past. Suddenly in the fire was heard a roar which startled me from revery. I glanced into the glowing coals and saw there a hazy form. As the coals burned brighter they revealed a figure of a man. At first I could not recognize him, but upon more careful inspection I saw that he was an old man, worn out by the cares and struggles of life. I saw it was Dr. Bruner, our honored President, who was still giving his life for the endowment of our dear Alma Mater. He had raised the necessary sum with the exception of a few dollars. Soon he turned to me and inriuired atiout my classmates, of whom I knew nothing. He then asked me how much I would give him on the endowment if he would tell me about them. Without a moment ' s thought I replied, Thirteen dollars. A gleam of joy stole over his face when he told me the necessary amount would be completed. As Dr. Bruner stirred the brilliant coals with his magic wand this picture was shown to me: There appeared the face of Zalia Lane, the belovetl President of our class. Her bright face had a pensive expression, as though she were recalling a recent prank of her chum, Rennie Spivey. On a second glance I saw her in a University, making a specialty of her favorite stud} ' . Mathematics. Suddenly the scene changed and I beheld Zalia in the Math room at Vassar, standing before a cla.ss of thoughtful girls, pointing out to them the difTerent angles, triangles, and the like. The next face to come into the picture was that of Rennie Spivey. I saw pictures of her specializing in voice, expression and English at dilTerent univers- ities, l ut at times she seemed unhappy and continued so until she found the means to go abroad in order that she might study German. After studying in Germany three years she returned to the Professorship of German at Smith to spend tlie remainder of her life. Again the settling of the coals revealed a face — it was that of Eunice Day. At first, in the picture, she was surrounded by the shadowy forms of many ad- mirers. The coals grew brighter and I saw her in a schoolroom with spectacles on her nose and a birch rofl in her hand. The scene changed and she was seated in a comfortable rocker surrounded, not by admirers this time, but by cats of every color and age, while a parrot was perched on the back of her chair. The coals liaving become dull Dr. Bruner gently stirred them. From the rear I saw the determined figure of Georgia Piland and in lier face I read, Grad- (itrin ad Mrtatii. With strong determination she had conquered Latin, having made a specialty of it at Columbia. While there she made a key to Livy which siu-p assed all those that were in existence. At this point I was startled when I saw tlu small, dainty figure of ALidge Con well in Europe studying voice, for while in college we thought she was deter-

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History of the Senior Class And it. came to pass in the year of our Lord one thousantl nine hundred and nine, when the sun lay heavily upon the land, that one hundred maidens from the great State of North Carolina were summoned to forsake their homes and hasten to refill the halls of Chowan Baptist Female Institute. Be it known that among those who obeyed the aforesaid summons there arose and came twenty- two unpolished jewels who earned the reputation of being the original unsalted, fresh Freshmen of the institution. The most honorable President of tlie C. B. F. Institute showed himself to be a most skilful lapidary, and wonderful changes were wrought in these precious bits of humanity, for they were found fit to sparkle in the sacred precincts of the Sophomore department of the new Chowan College. It would be futile to record the wonderful changes that took place in these maidens who had ventured from home and fireside to obey the call before mentioned. Only thirteen survived the polishing process and were found worthy to meet the requirements of the Junior Class. There they accidentally discovered that there was something to learn in life, and that they could learn. This latter bit of knowledge they at once proceeded to put into practice. They came twelve strong to the Senior Class when the autumn leaves began to paint the landscape. Their principal work since that time had been expended in studying History of Education and the art of Repressing Exuberance of Spirit. The only discouragement that weighed upon them was the discovery that their seemingly inexhaustible supply of dignity, incident to their Sophomoric age, had actually become exhausted and that essays and other duties of like char- acter loomed high on the horizon and that there was a species of dismay in the hearts of the Faculty as to the results. And now as these adventurers stand before the silent and closed doors of the future and look back upon the four years of the past, they reaUze that only the first volume of their history has been written and that ' the real, actual work of life lies before, and a larger and fuller volume must now be entered upon. So pray for us that we may ever have every page written in deeds worthy of record. Historian.

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mined to become a missionary. When I studied the picture carefully I saw an immense crowd in a great cathedral, then suddenly Madge came tnppmg ni and by her rich tones the throng was held spellbound. Silently as the snowfall the picture changed and the tlioiiglitful face of Mary Emma Long came into view. I saw her with wrinkled brow solving the problems of life and with this as her motto, Where there ' s a will there ' s a way. She had been successful and yet in the next jiicture there was a great change— she appeared happier and brighter as she sat in an armchair and read her poems, which have made her world famous. I saw n ext the figure of Marie Evans. After taking her A.B. degree from Chowan College she decided she wanted a musical education. She studied ui America several years and graduated at the New England ( onservatory. She went abroad to studv, and while over there she won much fame. After refvismg several splendiil offers she retm-ned to America and accepted the position of her former teacher at the Conservatory. The coals seemed cold, and still there were some of my classmates I had not seen. I could not imagine what had become of them or what the suddenly dying away of the coals meant. I searched them over and finally it seemeil as it I were carried away by their mystic influence into some strange land, perhaps Mexico, and while there I was passing through a large hospital and to my surprise I met Georgia Hartley in the hall ; she was a practising physician and missionary. She told me how she ' regained her health and strength after graduation by hivmg the Bees. This jMcture faded and another took its place. I saw Louise ' ann, tlu lial)y of our class. Although she was yovmg, she was brave to do and to dare. Li the city of St. Louis there was conveiied ' a Woman ' s Congress for the purpose of procuring votes for women. The gift of golden oratory made her easily a leader and in the parade she marched with the vanguard, and as she marched sang, Dare to be a Daniel. Last but not least I saw i)ictured in the coals the sweet, serious face of Etta Banks. Her speech is silver and her silence goklen, for with a glance she can speak volumes. I saw a large church decorated with violets and rich yellow chrysanthemums ; a huge arch was near the altar. The candles were lighted and I heard the sweet voice of Madge, while at the organ was Marie. As the strains of the Wedding March swelled forth from the organ, I saw my class- mates entering one by one. They were dressed in yellow with huge bunches of violets ill their arms. As the picture faded away I saw Etta kneeling at the altar wrajipcd in bridal draperies and at her side knelt her heart ' s king. A bow and Dr. Bruuer was gone, the coals gray and lifeless.